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Thursday, November 1, 2012

UN not just a meeting place for diplomats: Ki-moon

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:PHOTO/UN

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has
said that the
United Nations is not just a meeting place for diplomats, but a peacekeeper
disarming fighters, a health worker distributing medicine, a relief team aiding
refugees, a human rights expert helping deliver justice.

We
are living through a period of profound turmoil, transition and
transformation. Insecurity, inequality and intolerance are spreading,
Ki-Moon said in his message marking the United Nations Day.

His
message was delivered on his behalf by the World Health Organiation (WHO)
representative to the Gambia Dr. Thomas Sukuwa on October 24 as part of a
series of events organised by the UN System in the country to “Commemorate UN Day 2012”.

“No Woman Shall Die Giving
Life” was the
theme chosen by the UN System to commemorate the Day, which is a “global
advocacy event that offers a unique opportunity for the global community to
reflect on and take stock of the work of the United Nations.”

“Global
and national institutions are being put to the test. With so much at
stake, the United Nations must keep pace across the spectrum of its activities
– peace, development, human rights, the rule of law, the empowerment of the
world’s women and youth,” Mr. Ban acknowledges.

According
to him, there has been important progress on many fronts. Extreme poverty
has been halved since the year 2000. Democratic transitions are underway
in many countries and there are encouraging signs of economic growth across the
developing world.

“Now
is the time to raise our collective ambitions. With the 2015 deadline for
the Millennium Development Goals fast approaching, we must intensify our
efforts to reach all of these lifesaving targets,” he said.

We
must prepare a bold and practical post-2015 development agenda and we must
continue to combat intolerance, save people caught in conflicts and establish
lasting peace, he added.

In
carrying out this global mission, Ki-moon said the UN rely on countless friends
and supporters such as non-governmental organizations, scientists, scholars,
philanthropists, religious leaders, business executives and concerned citizens
who are critical to the UN’s success.

He
argues that no single leader, country or institution can do everything “but
each of us, in our own way, can do something.” He calls for individual
commitment and collective resolve to live up to the ideals of the United
Nations Charter and build a better world for all.

“The
world is changing rapidly since the birth of our organization. It is time for
us to take our performance and reflect on the challenges we face,” said Gambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr.
Momodou Tangara, whose statement was delivered by Mrs. Fatou Lamin Faye,
Minister of Basic and Secondary Education.

In so doing, we must accept that unless the
global challenges are addressed, there will be no global peace and security, he
added.

Tangara
reiterate Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy’s recent call for a reform of the UN
if global peace and security is to be guaranteed. “Reforming the UN and more so
the Security Council, has remained a herculean task for many years. But despite
this major challenge and among others, everyone agrees that the world need the
United Nation,” he said.

He
crave for the world to recognize with appreciation the laudable contributions
of Gambia’s security personnel in peacekeeping, peace building and conflict
venture operations in numerous parts of the world under the spices of the
UN.

Tangara
also applauded the United Nations family for their laudable achievements,
saying there is room for complacency.

His
remarks culminated in a call to all (governments) to renew their resolve to
continue working more earnestly with the UN towards the creation of a better
world characterized by peace, security, stability and meaningful
development.

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